Bronco Wild Fund Turns Five, Commits $200K to Wildfire Recovery
In the backcountry, the difference between a rescue and a recovery is often measured in minutes — and the capability of the machine underneath you.
This past summer in Utah, our President and CEO Jim Farley saw firsthand how Sheriff Jamison Wiggins of the Grand County Search and Rescue and his team utilized a Ford Bronco to navigate treacherous topography to save lives.
It was a reminder of why we at Ford engineer vehicles to meet rigorous demands, including those of search-and-rescue organizations. When lives are on the line, these heroes need vehicles that have been tested to the extremes so they can perform in the extremes.
When Jim got back from Utah and shared that story, it sparked a conversation back in Dearborn: "How do we get Bronco capability to even more search-and-rescue teams?"
The answer is a new collaboration between the Bronco Wild Fund and the National Association for Search and Rescue (NASAR). We’re calling it Bronco “Answer the Call,” and it is our way of getting the right tools — fully upfitted Bronco SUVs — into the hands of the people who do the most with the least. We are beginning a nationwide search to donate three Broncos to deserving search-and-rescue organizations across the country.
These three new donations are part of a larger commitment from Ford and the Bronco Wild Fund to provide a total of five specialized vehicles to search-and-rescue teams in 2026. We’ve already confirmed donations for Kern County Fire & Rescue in California and Teton County Search & Rescue in Wyoming, and now we are opening the call to find the final three recipients.
“A capable vehicle doesn't just get you to the scene; it brings the lost home safe. For under-resourced volunteer units, a donation like this isn't just a new vehicle — it’s a lifeline.”NASAR President Mikki Hastings
The vehicles we’re donating are Bronco Badlands models equipped with the Sasquatch Package, purpose-built for the most unforgiving terrain. To ensure they are mission-ready, we’re partnering with Darley to upfit them with specialized gear, including Starlink Satellite Connectivity for remote communication, drone technology for aerial reconnaissance in tough-to-reach areas, and advanced winches and recovery gear.
For most of us, off-road means a weekend escape. For the volunteers at NASAR, it’s an office — one where they often use their own personal gear and vehicles to save others.
Starting today through April 30, 2026, search-and-rescue organizations can visit NASAR.org to apply for the Bronco Answer the Call grant program. We’re looking for teams operating in the most diverse and extreme environments where the Bronco’s capability can make a tangible difference in mission outcomes.
In the coming weeks, we’ll be sharing more about these incredible teams and how they trust Ford Bronco to support their operations through our Ready Set Ford campaign, highlighting exactly what human capability looks like when it’s put to the ultimate test.
Dave Rivers is the head of Ford Enthusiast Brands.
